What is OCSLA?

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) defines the outer continental shelf as any and all submerged lands that are lying beyond state coastal waters, three miles or more from shore, that are under United States jurisdiction.

One of the major purposes of the OCSLA is to allow the Secretary of the Interior to grant leases for the exploration and development of minerals, oil, and other natural resources. More importantly, for offshore workers, the OCSLA extends the benefits of the Longshore and Harbor Workers Compensation Act (LHWCA) to non-seamen who are employed on the outer continental shelf.

Map of the United States

This means that if you are working on the subsoil or seabed of the outer continental shelf, or if you work on an artificial island or installation, you may be eligible for compensation under the LHWCA if you are injured while on the job.

According to the federal government, the waters that are considered part of the Outer Continental Shelf include

submerged lands,
subsoil, and
ocean floor extending from the seaward scope of the states’ jurisdiction and federal jurisdiction.

This area begins generally 3-9 nautical miles from the shore and extends out 200 nautical miles or farther, depending on the state.

Areas that include the Outer Continental Shelf are found along the Pacific U.S. coast, Atlantic U.S. coast, and the Gulf of Mexico coast. If you’re employed on a vessel traveling in these waters or on a platform positioned in these waters, you may be able to file a claim under the OCSLA if you become injured.

To qualify, the facility or structure that you work on must be

Permanently or temporarily attached to the outer continental shelf and it has been erected on the seabed of the outer continental shelf and its presence on the outer continental shelf is for the purpose of exploring, developing or producing natural resources from the outer continental shelf (for example, a stationary oil platform).
OR, it is permanently or temporarily attached to the seabed of the outer continental shelf, is not a ship or a vessel, but its purpose is to transport natural resources from the outer continental shelf (for example, a pipeline).

To qualify, your job must support operations to explore for, develop, remove or transport by pipeline the natural resources of the outer continental shelf.

The LHWCA allows qualified injured workers to receive federal workers’ compensation-type benefits for their injuries without regard to fault. The compensation is more limited than that allowed under the Jones Act or Death on the High Seas Act (DOHSA).

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) is an important part of the legal system you may run into when filing a maritime injury claim. When you file an offshore injury claim for a boating injury, the location is critical to your claim. Our maritime attorneys familiarize themselves with the boundaries of the outer continental shelf and where U.S. jurisdiction lies within those waters.

To determine if your claim is considered under the OCSLA or maritime law, you need to provide evidence that your injury didn’t occur on the actual vessel. The applicable areas where the OCSLA applies include:

on the subsoil and seabed of the OCS;
on any artificial island, installation or other device either permanently or temporarily erected on the OCS seabed; and
on an artificial island, installation or another device that is present on the OCS to develop, transport or produce resources.

Ships and vessels that merely travel through OCS waters do not apply to the OCSLA and would most likely fall under maritime law instead. The specific nature of OCSLA claims can be frustrating, which is why talking to a maritime attorney is vital.

Related articles on maritime and admiralty laws:

have a question?